HC Deb 29 July 1957 vol 574 c848
14. Mr. Hayman

asked the Minister of Health to what extent there is a shortage of fully qualified meat inspectors.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. J. K. Vaughan-Morgan)

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Hayman

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind that there is much uninspected meat going on the market for human consumption? Does he not consider this very undesirable, and will he do what he can to recruit inspectors?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

It is part of the general problem of the shortage of public health inspectors, but if the hon. Gentleman has any particular cases in mind, I must ask him to table a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Royle

Is not the difficulty accentuated by the Government's slaughterhouse policy, and if there were not such a multiplicity of slaughterhouses would not the situation be very much simpler?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

The problem surely is the shortage of public health inspectors.

Mr. Hayman

Might I point out that my Question was originally addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food but was transferred to the hon. Gentleman's Department?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I was referring to detailed cases.